Top Chef (season 5) - Episodes - Episode 1: Melting Pot

Episode 1: Melting Pot

  • Quickfire Challenge: The chefs are welcomed to the Big Apple by host Padma Lakshmi and head judge Tom Colicchio with a signature ingredient: apples. The challenge is a skills tournament in three rounds. The chef who finishes first in the Quickfire Challenge will win immunity in the next challenge, while the chef who finishes last will leave the show "right and now."
    • Round One: The chefs must peel 15 apples, using paring knives only, as quickly as possible. The first nine to finish will be safe. The remaining eight must go on to Round Two. Finishing order: Stefan, Fabio, Hosea, Ariane, Jeff, Melissa, Carla, Richard, Jamie. Stefan wins immunity for the next challenge.
    • Round Two: The chefs must then brunoise the apples (dice them very finely) until they fill up two cups. The first four to finish will be safe. The remaining four must go on to Round Three. Finishing order: Danny, Alex, Eugene, Jill.
    • Round Three: The remaining chefs (Lauren, Patrick, Radhika and Leah) are each given 20 minutes to "cook something that will convince that should stay here for this challenge in New York". They are given a burner, a saute pan, a choice of proteins and spices, and the apples they have prepared. After tasting, Tom chooses Leah and Radhika as the top two; both are safe from elimination. Lauren and Patrick, who knew each other as friends from culinary school, end up in the bottom two. Patrick's dish is chosen over Lauren's, so she is asked to pack her knives and go to the waiting ferry.
      • WINNER: Stefan
      • ELIMINATED: Lauren
  • Elimination Challenge: Each of the chefs draws a knife from the knife block marked with one of eight New York City neighborhoods. The chefs teams must cook dishes which represent the ethnic cuisines of those neighborhoods: Astoria (Greek), Brighton Beach (Russian), Long Island City (Middle Eastern), Ozone Park (Latin), Jamaica (Jamaican), Little Italy (Italian), Chinatown (Chinese), Little India/Curry Hill (Indian). The two dishes from each neighborhood will be judged head-to-head. Chefs of winning dishes will be safe; chefs of losing dishes will be up for elimination.
    • Type of cuisine, pairs of Winners vs. Losers (in the order they presented their dishes), followed the dish they made. The name of the winning chef for each dish is italicized.
      • #1: (Middle Eastern) - Ariane (Crusted Rack of Lamb, Farro Risotto, Dates with Chick Peas) vs. Stefan
      • #2: (Greek) - Richard (Lamb Slider with Dill, Feta, Orzo Pasta Salad) vs. Jamie (Pan Roasted Sea Bass and Eggplant Puree with Wile Arugula Salad)
      • #3: (Jamaican) - Jill (Jerk Seasoned Scallops with Plantain Fritters and Three Sauces) vs. Radhika (Jerk Rubbed Halibut with Ginger Beer Cocktail)
      • #4: (Latin) - Fabio (Pork with Mango Jalapeno Demi Glace, Roasted Mushroom and Avocado Salad) vs. Jeff (Cuban Coffee Seared Tenderloin, Smoked Plantain with Black Beans and Rice)
      • #5: (Russian) - Hosea (Smoked Fish Trio with Caviar, Creme Freche and Apple Chutney) vs. Carla (Smoked Trout and Salmon Cakes with Sour Cream and Caviar over Potato Latkes)
      • #6: (Italian) - Leah (Farro Risotto with Red Snapper, Topped with Mushrooms) vs. Melissa (Ribeye with Tomato Sauce, Arugula Salad and Fried Mushrooms)
      • #7: (Chinese) - Danny (Poached Chicken Salad with Bok Choy, Shiitake Mushrooms and Fried Wontons) vs. Patrick
      • #8: (Indian) - Alex (Lamb Chop with Curry Stew Topped with Basmati Rice) vs. Eugene (Dry Rub Lamb with Basmati Sweet Rice, Tzatziki and Tandoori Glaze-note: Padma mentioned that Eugene's dish did not resemble a tzatziki, but rather the South Indian culinary staple curd rice)
    • At Judges' Table, Eugene, Leah, and Stefan were selected as the judges' favorites out of the eight winners.
    • At Judges' Table, Ariane and Patrick were selected as the judges' least favorites out of the eight losers.
      • WINNER: Stefan (Lamb Chops with Tabouli, Hummus and Yogurt, Beef Skewer with Caramelized Onions)
      • ELIMINATED: Patrick (Mirin Basted Salmon with Steamed Bok Choy and Sesame Black Rice Noodles)
  • Elimination Challenge Prize: None noted in the broadcast airing.
  • Guest Judge: Jean-Georges Vongerichten
  • Original Airdate: November 12, 2008

Read more about this topic:  Top Chef (season 5), Episodes

Famous quotes containing the words melting pot, episode, melting and/or pot:

    We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.
    Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.)

    The press is no substitute for institutions. It is like the beam of a searchlight that moves restlessly about, bringing one episode and then another out of darkness into vision. Men cannot do the work of the world by this light alone. They cannot govern society by episodes, incidents, and eruptions. It is only when they work by a steady light of their own, that the press, when it is turned upon them, reveals a situation intelligible enough for a popular decision.
    Walter Lippmann (1889–1974)

    Since to the awe of thy imperious wit
    Our troublesome language bends, made only fit
    With her tough thick-ribbed hoops to gird about
    Thy giant fancy, which had proved too stout
    For their soft melting phrases.
    Thomas Carew (1589–1639)

    As if he were
    a pot of dates
    in a blind man’s hand,
    Mothers,
    they pilfer my husband
    and they’re jealous of me!
    The cobra’s hood
    has come out of its tail.
    Hla Stavhana (c. 50 A.D.)